Garli Sarli a prominent freelance figure in the game design world is designing a new d20 game system based off of the OGL. The details are below.

http://e20system.gmsarligames.com/index.html

The "e20: System Evolved" project has the goal of designing a genre-neutral roleplaying game whose mechanics allow for fast gameplay, streamlined character creation and advancement, and a cinematic storytelling experience. Its name is inspired by the decade-old "d20 System" license, and this project's intent is to help that venerable rules system evolve into its newest incarnation.

At its most basic level, this project is about grass-roots game design. Unlike most game design projects, the e20 Core Rulebook will have the direct input of fans from the very beginning. If you choose to back this project, you will have not only behind-the-scenes looks at the development process but also the opportunity to shape the final product by voting in polls, joining the discussion on forums at GMSarliGames.com, (http://gmsarligames.com,/) playtesting rules to provide direct feedback, and even contributing content for the game.

Why is it so important to bring fans into the process at such an early stage? Years of play have provided substantial hands-on experience with the "d20 System" and all its variations -- thousands upon thousands of hours of play that give significant guidance on not only what most needs to be changed, but also how and why.

Information technology makes it possible to decentralize design and development, but game publishers still employ designers and developers in small groups, bringing fans in for playtesting only in the latest stages. In other words, they are using a development model that doesn't take advantage of the changes of the past decade. An individual or small group might have an innovation, but only a population can evolve. This project is therefore an experiment that seeks to determine if it is possible to change the way games are made: Just as Wikipedia makes everyone an editor, the "e20 Project" makes everyone a designer.

To learn more, visit the e20 System home (http://e20system.com/)page (http://e20system.com/), read the FAQ (http://e20system.com/faq.html), check out the project's fund-raising page on Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gmsarli/game-design-e20-system-evolved-roleplaying-gam-0), or drop by our message boards (http://gmsarligames.com/forums) to join the discussion.

Banshee

02-18-2010, 11:31 AM

Awesome!

As more people are permitted to have their say, the game system can only get better!